Clothes-drier.



No. 674,27l. Patented May I4, |901. w. E. KNAPP.

CLOTHES DRIER.

(Application led May 22, 1899,)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

WELLINGTON E. KNAPP, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

CLOTH ES-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,271, dated May 14, 1901.

.Application led May 22, 1899. Serial No. 717,825. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WELLINGTON E. KNAPP, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Grand Rapids, inthe county of KentandState of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Driers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clothes-driers for `use in drying and airing laundered clothes in dwellings; and its objects are, first, to provide a folding clothesdrier with which the standards or supportingposts will stand perpendicular and always parallel with each other, and, second, to provide a folding` clothes-drier in which no two rods are directly in line one above the other except those in the posts and the two center pivotrods.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like numerals and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure l shows a perspective view of my clothes-drier with the frame open ready for use. Fig. 2 shows an Vend view with the frame closed. Fig. 3 shows an end view with the frame open. Fig. 4 shows an end view with the frame partially open. Fig. 5 shows an end view with the frame closed, the position of the frame being shown by dotted lines in order to illustrateV the position of the connecting-rods when the frame is properly made. Fig. 6 shows one end of the rod which rests in the slot, also shows a sectional view of the button on the end of such rod.

The drier consists of four standards and a pair of end frames supported thereby and having the strips forming each of the frames pivotally connected together by means of aseries of rods, and,further,providing the frames with a series of Y brace-rods connecting the frames'together. The end frames are of the same construction. Therefore in describing them the same letters of reference are applied thereto.

The reference-letters S denote a series of vertical supporting-standards, which, as shown, consist of four, and each pair thereof are connected and braced together by the bars S'. Supported upon the standards S in a man- 0f the standards S, and which also connects the strip A of one frame to the coresponding strip of the adjacent frame. Pivotally connected at its upper end to the rod l5 is an intermediate frame-strip D, which is arranged at an inclination in the saine manner as the strip B and is pivotally connected at its lower lend-to the rod 1l, supported bya pair of the standards S.

'Ihe upper strip Bis pivotally mounted, centrally thereof, upon the rod 3, supported by a pair of the standards S, and which also connects the strip B of one frame to the corresponding strip of the opposite frame. Pivotally connected at its upper end to the rod 3 is an intermediate frame-strip C, which is arranged atan inclination in the same manner as the strip A, and it is pivotally connected at its lower end to the rod 7, supported by a pair of the standards S.

The intermediate frame-strips C and D cross each other about the center thereof and are each pivoted at such point upon the rod 9. The intermediate strips C and D are of the same length as the strips A and B.

Pivotally connected at its lower end to the rod 7- is the lower frame-strip E, arranged upon the same inclination as the strip B and has its upper end pivotally connected to the rod 13, upon which is pivotally connected the lower end of the upper frame-strip A. The rods 7 and 13 connect the strips A and E of each frame together, and the rod 7 is supported in a pair of the standards S. Pivotally connected at its lower end to the rod 1l is lthe lower frame-strip F, arranged upon the same inclination as the strip A and has its upper end pivotally connected to the rod 5, upon which is pivotally mounted the lower end of the upper frame-strip B. The rods 5 and 11 connect the strips B and F of each frame together, and the rod 5 is supported in a pair of standards S. The lower framestrips are approximately half the length of IOO the strips A B C D. The upper ends of the standards S are each provided with a slot ct, one pair to receive the ends of the rod 15 and the other pair to receive the ends of the rod 3. Attached to the ends of the rods 3 aud 15 are the screw-buttons E', which are adapted to be adjusted so that the rods 3 and 15 will not slide in the slots too easily. These buttons will also permit of rigidly se curing the frame to the standards when the Y former is in an extended or folded position.

The slots ci will permit of the vertical movement of the rods 3 and 15 until arrested by the top or bottom of the slots, or, in other Words, when the frame is folded the rods 3 and 15 rise in the slots a, and when the frame is extended or opened rods 3 and 15 move downwardly in the slots a until their movement is arrested by the bottom of the slots.

The rods upon which the frames are pivcted are indicated by odd numbers from 1 to 15, inclusive, while the brace-rods for the frame are described by even numbers 2, e, 8, 10, l2, 14, and 16. The rods 2 and lare rigidly secured to the upper frame-strips B, the rods l2 and lll are rigidly secured to the upper frame-strips A, the rods 8 and 16 are rigidly secured to the intermediate framestrips C, the rod 6 is rigidly secured to the lower frame-strips F, and the rod 10 is rigidly secured to the lower frame-strips E. The intermediate frame-strips D have not a rigid brace or connecting rod.

In regard to the arrangement 'of the braccrods it is necessary to secure the same to the frames in such a manner that the latter will fold from the position shown in Figs. l and 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and 5.

It will be noted that the upper, intermediate, and lower frame-strips B. D, and E, respectively, are the outer strips of the end frame, While the strips A, C, and F are the inner strips.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to have invented, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A clothes-drier comprising in its construction a series of supporting-standards, a pair of vertically-adjustable rods suitably connected thereto, a pair of rods 7, 1l, secured to said standards, and a pair oi' end frames pivotally mounted upon said rods and each consisting of a pair of upper frame-strips, a pair of lower frame-strips and a pair of intermediate frame-strips, a rod for pivotally connecting the upper strips together, rods for pivotally connecting the upper and lower strips together, a rod for pivotally connecting said intermediate strips together, a series of brace-rods secured to the said frames, and means connected to said vertically-adjustable rods for arresting the movement thereof,

Signed at Grand Rapids, MichigamMay 1S, 1899.

WELLINGTON E. KNAPP. 1n presence of- BvRoN E. PARKS, ITHIEL J. CILLEY. 

